Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper are two of the biggest names when it comes to weight loss. As co-hosts of the hit reality series, the Biggest Loser, Jillian and Bob have each created their own mini diet and fitness empires with books, DVDs, cookbooks and now online programs.

Jillian Michaels Online and My Trainer Bob were both designed to make their sage and result-friendly expertise accessible to anyone interested in losing weight and getting healthier – no blue or black T-shirts needed.

Here is a look at how these two programs stack up against each other.

Jillian Michaels Online (jillianmichaels.com)

Overview: An online weight loss plan designed with real solutions for people who want to lose weight and keep it off. You’ll get Jillian’s signature no-frills, honest talk coupled with her triple-threat approach to success – self, science, and sweat - in order to change your life and your body, forever.

Nutrition: Based upon your BMI, which you will calculate upon signing up for the plan, you will receive a customized nutrition plan, complete with Jillian’s own metabolism-boosting tips, recipes and food guides to help you eat right and nutritiously for your body type.

Exercise: You pick when and where you want to work out. You’ll get all the tools, support, and motivation you need from Jillian’s customized online program.

Overview: My Trainer Bob is an online healthy living program that supplies you with a daily challenge, either through a workout or food activity. Food challenges are given via Bob’s blog and the fitness challenges are demonstrated via an online fitness video. The program also includes healthy living tools like a daily journal and daily motivating quotes and comments.

Nutrition: My Trainer Bob does not currently offer a nutrition plan, but it does allow you to record what you eat on the online daily journal and you can also learn about healthy eating tips through Bob’s blog and his many archived video segments.

Exercise: My Trainer Bob offers you daily motivation through its daily challenge, an exercise recommendation that is also demonstrated via an online video of Bob or one of his trainees demonstrating the correct form and count. Many of the exercises come from Bob’s Inside Out Method.

You can also track your workout progress and read from a number of Bob’s own fitness tips for burning more calories, sculpting lean muscles and making the most out of your workout.

If you want a structured plan to help you lose weight, JillianMichaels.com is the plan to choose. Not only does it provide with everything you need to choose the right foods and exercise, but it also taps into the behavior and emotional issues that prevent us from reaching our goal weight. While it does cost money – about $16 per month – it provides you with a customized and organized plan to help you lose weight from one of the biggest names in weight loss.

My Trainer Bob, by comparison, does not offer the comprehensive services that Jillian Michaels offers, but it is a free website, and it was just newly created, so its lack of offerings may have to do with its still-developing design. Its daily journal is commendable, but it is not interactive so you can’t determine how your caloric intakes are fairing compared to your caloric goals. One of the benefits of the plan is the daily challenge combined with Bob’s compassionate and encouraging style, which may appeal to those who want everyday motivation to move a bit more and eat a bit healthier.

Heather's background in nutrition and wellness only strengthens her work as a certified Ashtanga yoga instructor. This dedicated yogi has studied in India twice, and loves a Madonna-inspired workout mix.

Stay in Touch

The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice, doctors visit or treatment. The provided content on this site should serve, at most, as a companion to a professional consult. It should under no circumstance replace the advice of your primary care provider. You should always consult your primary care physician prior to starting any new fitness, nutrition or weight loss regime.